Muscat: Two commercial establishments were fined a total of OMR1,500 for selling expired products, the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) announced.

According to officials, the commercial establishments in Al Dhahirah Governorate violated consumer protection laws by selling expired shampoos, perfumes and hair and body creams that went bad.

An official statement from PACP read, “Law enforcement officers in the Department of Consumer Protection have recently been able to control businesses that sold corrupt, expired and unfit health products, thereby endangering the health and safety of consumers. This is part of the efforts of the Consumer Protection Authority to ensure compliance with laws and regulations related to consumer protection.”

During a regular inspection of shops, officials fined one commercial establishment for selling and displaying expired shampoos and perfumes. [The products showed] signs of going bad, such as foul odors and change in colour, shape, and properties, which indicated that they were unfit for use.

"Accordingly, legal procedures were taken and the other products were inspected as well. [Authorities] released a seizure report and imposed an administrative fine of OMR 1,000," PACP announced.

The second violation was discovered after authorities received a message from a citizen about a shop that was allegedly selling hair and body creams that were showing signs of going bad. Judicial officers immediately inspected the shop and confirmed that expired products were being sold.

All the products were confiscated from the shop, a seizure report was issued and an administrative fine of OMR500 was imposed for the sale of corrupt products and jeopardising the health of consumers.

The Public Authority for Consumer Protection, represented by the Consumer Protection Department in Al Dhahirah Governorate, calls on all merchants and suppliers to comply with the provisions of the Consumer Protection Law and its executive regulations by verifying the validity of goods and products and free of any risks or harm to the safety and health of the consumer or his money.